Tech Tools For Business Growth – Part 7 – Professional Content Writing

The right technology can accelerate business development in many ways – from reducing overheads to increasing sales.

Use our blog series to understand tech tool options for growth, and the advantages and disadvantages they present.

Part 7: Integration Software

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In our final Tech Tools post we examine Integration Software, which allows business applications and processes to work together automatically.

All-in-one software solutions are often not the best choice when growing a business. It can be more beneficial to select the most appropriate software tools for specific company needs.

However, it is essential that different online platforms can communicate and share data together – which is where Integration Software is very valuable.

Advantages

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– improved communication – all data shared within the same ecosystem so no important information is lost and less chance of misinterpretation.

– smarter processes – less time switching between tools improves productivity. One platform creates a more efficient environment for team dynamics.

– customised automated workflows – e-mail, document sharing, marketing software and other tools are brought together.

– silos eliminated – access hidden information to discover critical insights.

– real-time data-sharing – decreased processing and information delays.

– increased efficiency – prevents data loss and inconsistencies by creating a centralised management system.

– tighter security – a centralised platform makes it easier to discover and respond to threats. Compliance is easier as change is implemented in a single environment.

– versatility – cloud-based platforms connect to many applications, and evolve quickly, without waiting for developer input.

– no hardware purchase and maintenance costs – integration platforms are cloud-based.

– decreased overheads – reduced employee workloads from automation of repetitive tasks.

– better customer service – improved satisfaction and retention, through efficient and quicker task completion.

– business expansion – integration software allows the addition of new services provided by third-parties.

Disadvantages

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– understanding the different types of Integration software solutions

– discovering the most suitable platform for your requirements

– time to train staff in new software use and monitor adherence

– accuracy of data input is crucial to the effectiveness of the system

– cost of software although should be mitigated by efficiency savings

Features

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Integration software providers offer:

1. Full Enterprise Integration Software which connects combinations of on-premise systems and cloud applications, within one or across many organisations.

Market Leaders include Mulesoft,Tibco,

Dell Boomi, IBM, Microsoft SSIS and Informatica.

2. Simple ‘plug-in and play’ no-code Integration Connectors (iPaaS) for SaaS (cloud-based pay-monthly) applications.

This article concentrates on the ‘plug-in-and-play’ iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) Connectors, which are often more relevant to smaller businesses.

Integration software is a cloud-based platform enabling communication between multiple systems. Typical features include:

Business Process Integration – streamline processes by connecting systems and automating workflows between them.

Automate frequently executed tasks that use different applications; create actions that are repeated after stimulation by triggers, such as sending a notification once an email is received.

Synchronise calendars, build and switch connections on/off easily, connect to numerous applications.

Access customisable templates and dashboard, rely on automatic software updates.

Scalability – flexible to meet changing integration needs; able to add new connections to existing systems.

Real-time data – real-time data provision for significant business impact; data import and export; data enrichment and validation.

Considerations

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Do you simply need to get your CRM and E-Mail to talk to each other?

Or do you need a full architectural overhaul and hybrid solution connecting old on-premise legacy and new ”patched’ cloud systems?

The size of your business and expansion plans will determine whether you are considering a full Enterprise ecosystem (planned by developers), or a ‘self-service’ plug and play integration solution.

The amount of installation support, training and cost will relate to the type of system chosen.

Whichever solution is decided upon, ensure robust security credentials are in place against threats such as hacking and data breaches (see security considerations).

Examples

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Integration software to consider, as reviewed by Product Hunt, G2, Capterra, and Alternative Me includes:

1. Zapier

Zapier is a well-known solution for connecting apps, automating workflows, and sharing data between disjointed systems.

Easy automation, connect and automate over 500 web apps.

Lean dashboard to manage applications, task history feature monitors all activities and gives an overview of successful execution.

Creates up to 300 connections, synchronises with Google Calendar.

On/Off ‘Zap’ controls, create triggers and actions.

2. IFTTT

If This, Then This’ Functionality.

Easy use, create automation chains between apps so certain events trigger other events to occur automatically.

Streamline workflows by automating chains of events, works with over 500 apps.

Security alerts can be automated, services like Google Drive and Dropbox work with it seamlessly.

There are curated applets for use without having to create them.

3. Integromat

Connects apps and services into powerful integrations, to automate manual tasks into online workflows.

Transfers and transforms data, allows integration with hundreds of popular apps such as Google Drive, Twitter, Slack, Dropbox, and email.

Use pre-made integrations, or create simple automation tasks or complicated ones with multiple integrations.

Data logs create a record every time an operation happens.

4. Automate

Automate processes such as scraping data from a website or entering information into an online form.

Integrate cloud applications. Send automated emails, run drip campaigns, run smart social and mobile campaigns.

Streamline sales process, automate follow-ups, tasks, lead tracking.

Sync orders, reminders and payments to invoicing software.

Works with over 100 popular apps for CRM, Marketing, Helpdesk, Payments and Webforms.

5. PieSync

Easy set-up, intelligent two-way syncing matches and synchronizes customer data across connected apps.

Removes data gaps between sales, marketing and customer care are removed, to get the most out of customer data and make better decisions.

Easily consolidate customer contacts from multiple apps, keep up-to-date and save time on database maintenance, manual entry and importing/exporting data.

6. Zoho Flow

Easy set up of triggers and actions, plus

select pre-built Flows.

7. Parabola

Automate manual processes without spreadsheets or code, use drag-and-drop to build, schedule and trigger flows.

For example, pull in data from multiple sources (eg webscraper ParseHub), transform it, and push the usable data to Google Sheets and visualisation tools.

Create a fully custom Asana dashboard,

access the Wrike API and create custom task management reports.

Use pre-built flows, from simple list cleanups to custom e-commerce reports, linked to advertising channel traffic and transaction revenue.

8. Microsoft Flow

Automate tasks by integrating apps, make repetitive tasks easy with workflow automation.

From simple push notifications and content management to complex business processes with defined steps and stages.

Manage flows on desktop or through a mobile app. Integrates with various Microsoft services and apps.

Set up triggers, for example, when a new lead is added to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, an automated workflow can send sales staff an email or text message with the lead details.

File management, such as when a file is added to Dropbox or OneDrive, an automated workflow can instantly post a copy to SharePoint.

Data collection, for instance, to see what people are saying about a particular brand, create a trigger to capture new tweets that mention the brand and add to a database.

Team members can run a flow that sends a text message to a support engineer to flag an issue.

Works witha wide variety of apps and services – including Salesforce, Twitter, Box, DocuSign, Slack, Skype and Google Drive.

Extensive library of prebuilt flows, and users can also make their own flows.

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